Efficacy of phase 3 trial of RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine: The need for an alternative development plan

Abstract

Although vaccines would be the ideal tool for control, prevention, elimination, and eradication of many infectious diseases, developing of parasites vaccines such as malaria vaccine is very complex. The most advanced malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S, a pre-erythrocytic vaccine, has been recommended for licensure by EMEA. The results of this phase III trial suggest that this candidate malaria vaccine has relatively little efficacy, and the vaccine apparently will not meet the goal of malaria eradication by itself. Since there are many vaccine candidates in the pipeline1 that are being evaluated in vaccine trials, further study on using of alternative parasite targets and vaccination strategies are highly recommended.